The County Council today notified councillors that planning meetings for the new council will take place at 2pm. At present in Durham District they commence at 5.30pm which allows residents time to get to the meetings after work.

Now, almost every person who works in County Durham will have to take time off work to attend planning meetings. Additionally, many residents will be picking up children from school when the meeting is on. Overall, only those who are retired or people who can afford to take the time off work will be able to attend.

This is not what the “New Era” council was supposed to be about. Quite frankly its undemocratic. If you can’t take time off work and there is a planning development opposite your house going to committee, you won’t be able to attend the meetings.

It was bad enough when Labour decided that half the councillors on the committees would have to be from outside the area. By the time they’ve finished it will not be worth bothering attending. The cynical amongst us would say that’s what Labour wants.